Can I keep chickens in Derby, KS?
Yes — Derby allows backyard chickens, up to 6 hens with no permit required. Roosters are prohibited, and coops must be at least 50 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (Derby Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), ch. 6.12, secs. 6.12.080(A)(4), 6.12.070(D), 6.12.030, verified June 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 6 |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 50 ft |
| Coop rules | No animal pen/enclosure housing fowl (other than dog/cat pens) may be located less than 50 ft from a dwelling or street; pens kept sanitary, manure removed weekly. Sanitation/odor rules relaxed in the R-1C Suburban Single-Family district. |
| Code section | Derby Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), ch. 6.12, secs. 6.12.080(A)(4), 6.12.070(D), 6.12.030 |
Derby allows up to six chickens (hens only) on a property; roosters and other loud birds are expressly prohibited. Any pen housing fowl must be at least 50 ft from a dwelling or street, and a household may keep no more than three of the listed animal types unless on R-1C-zoned or 5+ acre property. No keeping permit is required.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Derby?
Yes — chickens are allowed in Derby (Derby Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), ch. 6.12, secs. 6.12.080(A)(4), 6.12.070(D), 6.12.030).
How many chickens can I keep in Derby?
Up to 6 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Derby?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in Derby.
Are roosters allowed in Derby?
No — roosters are prohibited in Derby.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in Derby?
50 feet minimum. No animal pen/enclosure housing fowl (other than dog/cat pens) may be located less than 50 ft from a dwelling or street; pens kept sanitary, manure removed weekly. Sanitation/odor rules relaxed in the R-1C Suburban Single-Family district.
What law covers backyard chickens in Derby?
Derby Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), ch. 6.12, secs. 6.12.080(A)(4), 6.12.070(D), 6.12.030. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Derby Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals), ch. 6.12, secs. 6.12.080(A)(4), 6.12.070(D), 6.12.030 — read the official code
“No person shall own, keep, harbor, or possess upon any premises ... a number of the following enumerated animals in excess of the maximum prescribed in this subsection: ... Chickens (hens only)-Six.” source
“It is unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, possess, or maintain roosters (male chickens), guineas cocks, peacocks or other birds that by nature exhibit loud calls, within the corporate limits of the city.” source
“No animal pen, rabbit hutch, pigeon loft or similar enclosure housing animals or fowl, other than a dog or cat pen, shall be located less than fifty feet from a dwelling or street.” source
Last verified June 14, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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